Sunlight could help you fight off infections

When you're feeling poorly, wrapping up warm and staying inside is the best thing to do, right? Well, maybe not... It turns out that getting outdoors could help you fight off those dreaded winter bugs, but only if it's sunny outside.

New research from Georgetown University has shown that sunlight energises our immune system, the Daily Mailhas reported.

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It look like sun exposure allows our T cells (which help fight off infections) to move more quickly, keeping the body alert to new bugs. Scientists discovered that light activates hydrogen peroxide, which opens up T cell pathways, speeding up their pace.

Study author Dr Gerard Ahern told the Daily Mail: 'We all know sunlight provides vitamin D, which is suggested to have an impact on immunity, among other things. But what we found is a completely separate role of sunlight on immunity. Some of the roles attributed to vitamin D on immunity may be due to this new mechanism.'

So next time everyone around you seems to coming down with the lurgy, get outside pronto! Or just use this as the perfect excuse to book yourself a winter holiday in the sun...